| Okavango | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Mouth | Moremi Wildlife Reserve, Botswana |
| Basin countries | Angola, Namibia, Botswana |
| Length | 1,600 km (1,000 mi) |
| Avg. Moremi Game Reserve is a National Park in Botswana. It rests on the western side of the Okavango Delta and was named after Chief Moremi of the A drainage basin is an extent of Land where Water from Rain or Snow melt drains downhill into a body of water such as a River, Angola, officially the Republic of Angola (República de Angola Pronounced ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɨ ɐ̃ˈgɔlɐ Repubilika ya Ngola is a country in south-central Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa on the Atlantic coast The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana is a Landlocked nation in Southern Africa. discharge | 475 m³/s (16,774 ft³/s) (350-1000 m³/s) |
| Basin area | 530,000 km² (205,000 mi²) |
The Okavango River is a river in southwest Africa. In Hydrology, the discharge or outflow of a River is the volume of Water transported by it in a certain amount of time "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there It is the fourth-longest river system in southern Africa, running southeastward for 1,600 km (1,000 miles). It begins in Angola, where it is known as the Cubango River. Angola, officially the Republic of Angola (República de Angola Pronounced ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɨ ɐ̃ˈgɔlɐ Repubilika ya Ngola is a country in south-central Further south it forms part of the border between Angola and Namibia, and then flows into Botswana, draining into the Moremi Wildlife Reserve. Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa on the Atlantic coast The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana is a Landlocked nation in Southern Africa. Moremi Game Reserve is a National Park in Botswana. It rests on the western side of the Okavango Delta and was named after Chief Moremi of the
Before it enters Botswana, the river drops 4 meters, across the full 1. 2km-width of the river, in a series of rapids known as Popa Falls, visible when the river is low, as during the dry season. [1]
Unusually, the Okavango does not have an outlet in the sea. Instead, it empties into a swamp in the Kalahari Desert, known as the Okavango Delta. The Okavango Delta (or Okavango Swamp) in Botswana, is the world's largest inland delta. Part of the river's flow fills Lake Ngami. Lake Ngami is an Endorheic Lake in Botswana north of the Kalahari Desert. World famous for its remarkable wildlife, the Okavango area contains the Moremi Wildlife Reserve (Botswana). Moremi Game Reserve is a National Park in Botswana. It rests on the western side of the Okavango Delta and was named after Chief Moremi of the
Contents |
Water Conflict
Both Namibia and Botswana are in severe drought and as a result of this there is a large conflict concerning the use of the river's water. Namibia has built a water canal, measuring about 300km long, and has proposed a project to build a 250km pipeline to divert water from the river into Namibia to help relieve the drought.
Botswana, however uses the Okavango Delta for both tourism income and a water source. The Okavango Delta (or Okavango Swamp) in Botswana, is the world's largest inland delta. The department of water affairs in Botswana argues that 97% of the water in the river is lost through evaporation, so the country cannot afford to lose any extra water. Should the Okavango Delta dry up, Botswana would lose its primary source of income and it would be thrust into poverty. The Okavango Delta (or Okavango Swamp) in Botswana, is the world's largest inland delta.
Namibia, however, argues that it will only divert half a percent of the river's flow, and that it is entitled to any water that flows through its country. The dispute seemed to have four clear alternatives; Alternative water collection sources, Negotiation, United Nations legal intervention and War. To bypass these options, in 1994 Namibia and Botswana signed the Okavango River Basin Commission (OKACOM), agreeing to the fair usage of the water in the Okavango river which they share.
See also
Notes
- ^ Siyabona Africa Travel (Pty) Ltd, "Popa Falls | Okavango River | Botswana" webpage: TravelZA-PopaFalls
External links
- Safari in the Delta
- Map of the Okavango River basin at Water Resources eAtlas
- Map of the Okavango Delta at RhinoAfrica
- OKACOM Homepage
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic